Nas came onto the scene in 1991 as a featured guest on rap group Main Source's album "Breaking Atoms." After garnering industry buzz for his lyrical technique and subject matter, Nas released his debut album "Illmatic" on Columbia Records three years later to critical acclaim. With production from hip-hop heavyweights like Pete Rock, DJ Premier and Q-Tip, "Illmatic" is a classic of the genre and is widely regarded as one of the best albums of the 1990s.